JAMMU: Flamboyant over assurance of “amnesty” by councillor of Ward No 69, the violators in Sainik Colony, Sec G openly defy the authorities of Jammu Municipal Corporation and constructed four shops on four different vacant plots.
The majority of law abiding citizens in the vicinity termed it as a brazen act of lawlessness wherein under the guise of kiosks, the plot owners are constructing commercial shops without any building permission from JMC so as to get these shops legitimised as old.
Reliable sources in JMC revealed that JMC Commissioner, Rahul Yadav taking cognisance of construction of shops on vacant plots in Sec G of Sainik Colony falling in ward No 69 has instructed the Khilafarzi wing for dismantling unauthorised kiosks.
Acting swiftly, the concerned enforcement officials has reached the spot and dismantle illegal kiosks. Later, the violators approached the councillor of their ward namely Gurmeet Kour Randhawa and after meeting them they again constructed their kiosks with tin and wooden logs mocking the JMC authorities with impunity.
Enraged over the high morale of building permission violators, the residents of Sainik Colony told JK Globals News “We, are not against the construction of kiosks but if laws are same for everyone then it should be equally applicable to one and all”.
Moreover, shielding wilful violators of illegal constructions is not the job of a councillor, added another resident of Sainik Colony namely Inderjit Singh.
The elected councillors should strive to ensure healthy developments in their respective wards as per laid down norms of JMC and avoid boosting acts of building permission violators, said a shopkeeper of Sainik Colony.
Clarifying on the controversy revolving around construction of couple of illegal kiosks in her ward No 69, Councillor Gurmeet Kour Randhawa said “These kiosks are constructed on plots which legally belongs to legitimised owners. Above all, these kiosks are not constructed after encroaching road in the area.
Evading reply when asked did owners of these plots have obtained necessary permission from JMC prior to start of commercial activities in their vacant plots, she said “The kiosks owners are “poor” individuals who are working to support their families”.
Interestingly, the cost of plots on which the owners constructed shops/kiosks in broad day light is around 60 to 70 lakhs and how they are qualify as hapless poor is mind blowing, said a nearby resident.
Action against these illegal kiosks is litmus test for newly posted JMC commissioner Rahul Yadav whose direction of action against these identified illegal shops/kiosks so far failed to prove its administrative weight.